Worcester Police Department

Worcester Man Fights with Police over Illegal, Stolen Handgun

For Immediate Release:
11/20/2017 10:58 am

(November 20, 2017) - On November 18th at about 4 PM, Worcester Police were dispatched to an address on Preston St for a report of a vehicle being intentionally damaged. The caller described the suspect as a Hispanic male with gray pants and a black jacket. Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle with significant damage. The windshield was smashed in several places and two of the car’s tires were flat. The officers saw three males in the hallway of the building, one of whom matched the description given of the suspect.

The officers asked the suspect, later identified as Jonathan Cortes, twenty-two-years-old of Preston St, to speak with them. Once he was identified as the male who damaged the car, they told him that he was under arrest. Mr. Cortes immediately pushed one of the officers, and tried to run away. Officers grabbed on to him as he tried to run out of the building.

Mr. Cortes reached back and elbowed one of the officers in the face, then reached to his waistband. Officers were concerned that he might be reaching for a gun, and focused on taking his hand away from his waist. After officers pulled his hand away, a black handgun fell to the floor, and an officer recovered it. There were about fifteen people around the officers as the struggle continued.

Mr. Cortes continued to strike all three of the officers with elbow strikes, and violently resist arrest. The crowd grew hostile, shouting “get off him” and “you’re hurting him” to police. One of the officers utilized his department-issued OC spray and delivered a one-second burst to Mr. Cortes’ face. Eventually, Mr. Cortes was placed in handcuffs.

Jonathan Cortes does not have a license to carry firearms. The firearm was loaded, had no safety, and would have fired had the trigger been pulled. A check of CJIS revealed that the firearm was stolen out of Manchester. Mr. Cortes is charged with Defacement of Property, three counts of Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (gun), Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm, Unlawful Carrying of a Dangerous Weapon, Disturbing the Peace while Armed, Loaded Firearm Violation, Possession of a Firearm without an LTC, Possession of Ammunition without an FID card, and Receiving Stolen Property. He will be arraigned in Worcester District Court today.